Cooler



. H. S. SCHOPF.

COOLER.

7 APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1920.

136,90. v PatentedAug. 21...

Elma/MM.

UHT ST (HENRY S. SGHOPF, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTONJ COOLER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

Application filed December 9, 1920. Serial No. 429,374.

To all whom'z't may concern;

Be it known that I, HENRY S. SoHorr, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in Spokane county, and State of -VVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coolers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in evaporative coolers especially adapted for domestic use in refrigerating and preserving foods and other provisions 1n a'sanitary condition.

The primary object of the invention is the production of a device of this character of the knockdown type which may be folded in compact form for shipping or storage, and which when erected or assembled for use will sustain and support the water bags or containers forming the inclosure for the foods or provisions. In carrying out my invention I utilize a plurality of double wall devices or receptacles in connection with sustaining frames, which latter arefoldable into compact shape and are constructed in such manner as to afiordronvenience in erection and packing.

The invention-consists essentially in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts involving the supporting or sustaining frames and water receptacles as will hereinafter be more clearly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention in which the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the'practical application of the principles of my. invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional, transverse,vertical, view of a cooler embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sup porting frame, detached.

In the preferred form of my invention I utilize a metallic tank A, forming the base of the device, and receptacle to receive dripping water, which is open at the top, provided with a suitable drain outlet (not shown) and preferably rectangular in shape.

A'similar vessel B forms the top of the device and is fashioned as a pan, preferably ofmetal, inverted, conforming to the shape of the base tank, but smaller in dimensions than the base tank in order that water may drip or drop from the lower edges of the inverted pan to the base tank which forms a reservoir or receiver for the dripping water from the cooler.

On top of the metallic top of the cooler I locate a water container -G, of fabric or similar material of such porosity as to perm1t water to pass through its pores in the desired quantity, and as shown this container is flat, rectangular in shape and of less dimensions than the metal top 13. The com tainer C may be filled through the-filling spout C and the contained water slowly seeps 'or percolates through the porous walls thereof, a portion being evaporated and the remainder'falling to the reservoir, over the top edges of the metal top B.

The sides of the cooler, whether considered as sides, or sides andends, are constituted by an open, rectangularreceptacle or container D which is made up of a single element with'double walls, and single top and bottom members, forming an annular water chamber that may be filled through the opening D. In addition to these containers, a third container E is utilized, resting on top of the reservoir, or rather supported directly above the reservoir, as will be described, and within the confines of the rectangular open container D. These three containers are made of material'to form substantial vessels for retainingthe water, and their several walls are of the required porosity to permit the water to ooze or seep therethrough, and the evaporation of this water provides for exchange of heat, rendering the temperature of the air within the inclosure formed by the several containers, at a comparatively low degree with relation to the surrounding atmosphere.

For supporting the water containers I utilize a frame indicated as a whole by the letter F in-Fig. 2, and this frame, involving an inner and outer section, holds in erect,

vertical position the open, rectangular container D, sustains the metal top B and top container 0, and also supports the bottom container E.

Both sections of the frame are made up of wire, the parts being bent to shape by proper tools or machinery, and the wire is of. roper gage to afford strength and stability forthe performance of the functions of the frame sections.

The outer frame section is designed to inolose the open rectangular container D, and its two side walls and end walls are adapted to fold-down upon the bottom, while the inner section of the frame is of a sizeto fit within the interior of the open rectangular bars 1 and parallel end bars 2, and each of these members has downturned ends 3, se-

cured in'pairs by a clamp ring 4, to form legs at the four corners of the base, the floor of thebase being fashioned of cross wires 5 with their ends coiled or tied about the side bars of the .base. c

The sides and ends of the outer frame are folda-ble, and may be laid flat on the base,-for packing or storing when the cooler is not in use. The sides each have a top-bar 6 and the ends each have a corresponding top bar 7, while the sides, at 8 are hinged to the side bars 1 of the base, and. are provided with longitudinally extendingbrac'eibars 9, each having an eye 10 at its extremities, and tied to the end verticalbars 11 of the sides.

The foldable ends of the outer frame have vertical posts 12 and longitudinal or horizontal brace bars 13, and are hinged at 14k to the end bars 2 of the base. The ends also have eyes 15 at the extremities of the horizontal brace bars 13, and the eyes 10 and 15 of the sides and ends are alined, and disposed in pairs, to receive the vertical locking bars f 16, one at each corner of the frame. These locking bars each have an upper bent end 17 to prevent slipping entirely through the eyes, and the bars arelocated at the corners of the frame to tie the respectivesides and ends of theframe together. They may readily bev withdrawn to disconnect the'frame -member s, after which the members'may be folded down on top of the frame base for packing.

Within the outer frame a second'frame is inclosed, which latter frame is of course smaller in its dimensions, but its rectangular bottom 18' is elevated above the bottom of the outer frame and its corner legs 19, pass ing through the bottom of the lower frame rest upon the base A of the cooler. The foldable sides 20 of the inner frame are hinged at 21 to the bottom, and the similarly foldable ends 22 are hinged to the bottom at 23. The sides and ends of the inner frame are providedwith a pair of to hooks 2 1, extending outwardly, and adapted to engage over the complementary top bars of the sides and ends of the outer frame, to providea rectangular space between the outer and innor. frames for the accommodation of the rectangular water container of the cooler.

brace bars 25 of the inner frame members are offset or bent to form supporting lugs for ahorizontally disposed shelf 26, of the cooler.

. From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a device of this character that may be erected'with facility and despatch, the-parts being assembled and built up from the base pan or tank A as shown in the drawings. l/Vith the containers filled to required capacity with water, the

operation will be understood, as it is apparent that the'water oozing through the po- 'rous walls of the containerto theexterior surfaces thereof, is evaporated by air currents, thus exchanging and carrying off the heat units, to cool the interior of the device. The containers form a well protected inclosure for provisions or food, and the porosity of the walls of the containers permits passage of the water therethrough to provide moisture 'on the outer surfaces ofthe containers at all times, as long as thesupply of water lasts. From the top container C the water drips or drops and flows down the exterior walls of the rectangular container D, part being evaporated and the remainder finally reaching the tank or pan A. The water in the container D also oozes through its walls, and the portion not evaporated is recovered inthe base pan A.- a a Y Preferably the containers are emptied before dismantling, and after the containers have been made ready for packing, the

frames may be knocked down and folded into compact form for storing or shipping.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, p 1. The combination with an open base pan and containers as described, of a supporting frame comprising inner and outer sections and each section formed with a bottom portion for the purpose described, said sections having foldable sides and ends, means for locking the sectionsof the frame, and means forlo'cking the'sides and ends of the outer section. 1

2. The combination with a base pan and containers as described, of inner and outer frame sections each having a rigid bottom, the sides and ends of said sections being foldable on their respective bottoms, means for locking the sides and ends of the outer section together, and means on the inner section former in fixed position.

3. The combination with containers as dcto engage the outer section for holding thescribed of a supporting frame comprising incorner locking bars therefor, and hooks on tions and a bottom container supported on the inner section adapted to engage the outer the bottom of the outer section, a top memsection, for the purpose described. ber closing the cooler of less dimensions than 10 4. In a cooler as described, the combinathe base pan, and a Water container on said 5 tion with inner and outer frame sections havtop member, as described.

ing rigid bottoms, and a base pan, of a rec- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. tangular Water container between said sec' HENRY S. SCHOPF. 

